1
Center for Biology and Society517 E. Kelly Lane
Arizona State UniversityTempe, AZ 85284
P.O. Box 873301(480) 816-1048
Tempe, AZ
(480) 727-7111,
Education
Ph. D. 2000. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Program in Science, Technology and Society.
B. A., summa cum laude, 1990. University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign. Chemistry. History and Philosophy of Science.
Professional Positions
Director, Life Science Ethics, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University. March 2014-present.
Associate Director, Center for Biology and Society, Arizona State University. January 2007-present.
Executive Director, Bioethics, Policy and Law Program, Arizona State University. January 2013-February 2014.
Interim Director, MA Applied Ethics and the Professions, Biomedical and Health Ethics, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, Arizona State University. July 2015-June 2016.
Director, MA Applied Ethics and the Professions, Biomedical and Health Ethics, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University. March 2014-June 2015.
Executive Director, MA Applied Ethics and the Professions, Biomedical and Health Ethics, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University. January 2013-February 2014.
Director, Responsible Conduct of Research, Center for Biology and Society, Arizona State University. August 2006-December 2006.
Interim Assistant Dean, Research Policy and Compliance, Graduate School, University of Wisconsin–Madison. June 2005-July 2006.
Assistant Faculty Associate, Sociology, University of Wisconsin–Madison. September 2004-May 2005.
Compliance Specialist, Graduate School, University of Wisconsin–Madison. September 2002-July 2006.
Lecturer, Department of the History of Science and Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin–Madison. September 2001-December 2002.
Visiting Assistant Professor, Program in History of Science & Technology, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. August 2000-May 2001.
Lecturer, Program in Science, Technology and Society, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. September 1999-December 1999.
Lecturer, Department of Electrical Engineering, Cornell University. September 1994-December 1994.
Teaching Experience
Graduate Courses
Research Ethics
- Introduction to Research Ethics (1 credit)
- Research Ethics: Animal Subjects (1 credit)
- Research Ethics: Conflicts of Interest (1 credit)
- Research Ethics: Human Subjects Research (1 credit)
- Research Ethics: Responsible Authorship (1 credit)
- Responsible Conduct of Research: Emerging Biotechnologies (1 credit)
Seminars
- Research Prospectus Writing
- Environment, Experts, and the State
- History of US Electrification
- Nanotechnology and Society: Analytical and Pedagogical Approaches
Undergraduate Courses
Technology and American Culture
Technology in Western Society
Medicine and Humanities
ASU 101: The ASU Experience (1 credit)
Ethics in Science and Technology
Nuclear Power and Weapons in Environmental History
Professional Values in Science
Water in American Society
Reading Seminar: The Atomic Bomb
Advisees
Ph.D. Co-Chair
Samantha Thompson. Ph.D. History and Philosophy of Sciences. ASU. Forthcoming.
Ph.D. committee member
- Stephanie Buchholtz.Ph.D. Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Forthcoming.
- Mary Drago. Ph.D. Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Forthcoming.
- Jonathan LaTourelle Ph.D. Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Forthcoming.
- Erica O’Neil.Ph.D. Biology (Biology and Society).ASU.Forthcoming.
- Federica Turriziani Colonna, Ph.D. History and Philosophy of Sciences. ASU. Forthcoming.
- Yawen Zou, Ph.D. History and Philosophy of Sciences. ASU. Forthcoming.
- Julia Damerow. Ph.D. Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. August 2014.
- Karen Wellner.Ph.D. Biology (Biology and Society).ASU.May 2014.
- Katherine Hunt. Ph.D. Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. December 2013.
Masters
Thesis, Co-Chair
- Jennifer Craer, MS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Forthcoming.
- Chanapa Tantibanchachai. MS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. May 2015.
- Britta Martinez. MS Biology (Biology and Society).ASU. May 2013.
- Catherine Min. MS Biology (Biology and Society).ASU.May 2012.
- Nicole Newkirk.MS Biology (Biology and Society).ASU.May 2010.
Applied Project, Chair
- Kaveish Sewalia. MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. Forthcoming.
- Justin Jackson. MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. Forthcoming.
- Nicole Zieg. MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. May 2015.
Applied Project, member
- Mayra Galaz, MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. Forthcoming.
- Nicholas Longley, MA Applied Ethics (Science and Technology Ethics). ASU. Forthcoming.
- Alexandra Nicodema.MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. December 2015.
- Kelsey Rebovich. MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. December 2015.
- Paula Anibaba.MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. May 2015.
- Aurelia Reyes.MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. May 2015.
- Albert Spurgeon. MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. May 2015.
- Julie Leonard. MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. December 2014.
- Jeff Williams. MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. December 2014.
- Cesar Vargas. MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. August 2014.
- Ibrahim Alsubaihi. MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. May 2014.
- Quihong Li. MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. May 2014.
- Julia Nieto.MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. May 2014.
- Shireen Nouri. MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. May 2014.
- Sujata Behera. MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. December 2013.
- Carol Lee. MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. December 2013.
- Karla Sakkijha. MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. May 2013.
- Alex Feder.MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical and Health Ethics). ASU. May 2013.
- Mary Drago. MA Applied Ethics (Biomedical Ethics track). ASU. December 2011.
Committee member
- Cecilia Chou, MS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Forthcoming.
- Kristen Boyle, MS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Forthcoming.
- Zane Bartlett, MS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. December 2015.
- Ashleigh Gonzales, MS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. May 2015.
- Nevada Wagoner, MS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. May 2015.
- Meghana Yanamandra, MS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. August 2015.
- Maryann (Liz) Barnes, MS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. August 2014.
- Valerye Milleson. MS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. August 2014.
- Victoria Calvelage. MS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. December 2013.
- Tito Carvalho. MS Biology (Biology and Society).ASU.May 2012.
- Amanda Waddell. MS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. May 2012.
- Byunghun Hyun. MS Biology (Biology and Society).ASU.December 2011.
- Anjali Moorthy. MS Biology (Biology and Society).ASU.August 2011.
- Karen Wellner.MS Biology (Biology and Society).ASU.December 2010.
Undergraduate
Co-Chair
- Alexandra McKane. BS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Honors Thesis. December 2013.
- Lindsey O’Connell. BS Biology (Biology and Society).ASU.Honors Thesis.May 2013.
- Britta Martinez. BS Biology (Biology and Society).ASU.Honors Thesis.May 2012.
- Laurel McNamara. BS Biology (Biology and Society).Capstone project mentor. May 2012.
- Zubaidah Zahid.BS Biology (Biology and Society).Capstone project mentor. May 2012.
Committee member
- Grace Kim,BS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Honors Thesis. Forthcoming.
- Sarah Farrokh,BS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Honors Thesis. May 2015.
- Elena Bautista-Hobin, BS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Honors Thesis. May 2015.
- Jennifer Craer,BS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Honors Thesis. May 2014.
- Christina Cressler, BS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Honors Thesis. May 2014.
- Brandon Tallman,BS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Honors Thesis. May 2014.
- Krista Zeien,BS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Honors Thesis. May 2014.
- Nathalie Antonios, BS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Honors Thesis. December 2013.
- Allison Michael, BS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Honors Thesis. December 2013.
- Abel Aguirre.BS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Honors Thesis. December 2012.
- Kimberly Mohabir.BS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Honors Thesis.May 2012.
- Amanda Waddell. BS Biology (Biology and Society). ASU. Honors Thesis.May 2011.
- Allison Hoynes-O’Connor.BS Biology (Biology and Society). Honors Thesis. ASU.May 2010.
Research supervisor
Brandon Hoogstra. Fall 2015 & Spring 2016. With Jeffrey Watson.
Tristan Raskin. Spring 2015. With JJ LaTourelle.
Administrative Experience
Center for Biology and Society, Arizona State University. August 2006-present.
Primary responsibilities in the areas of graduate program administration and life science ethics. Provides high-level support to PhD, MS, and BS/MS programs in Biology and Society and PhD in History and Philosophy of Science. Manages program and course approval processes, develops policy, participates in student admission and review processes, advises students, and teaches core courses. In the area of life science ethics, teaches courses, conducts research, directs SOLS ethics program, participates in university initiatives, such as review of academic integrity policy, and serves as a resource for colleagues. Responsible for ethics program and grant budgets. Ex officio member of the founding executive committee for the PhD in the Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology.
Research Policy and Compliance, Graduate School, University of Wisconsin–Madison. September 2002-July 2006.
Focusing on review of potential for conflicts of interest in research and oversight of research with human subjects, activities included policy analysis and development, educational resources development, information technology system development, and management of compliance committee business. Provided high-level staff support to the Research Advisory Policy Council, the All Campus Institutional Review Board, and the campus Conflict of Interest Committee. Contributed to the following major initiatives:
- Development and implementation of a campus policy on management of conflicts of interest in human subjects research
- Development of a database systems for online reporting of outside activities and management of conflict of interest committee decisions and business
- Upgrade of the university’s on-line Human Subjects Tutorial that provides federally mandated training in the ethics of human subjects research to university faculty, staff, and students
- Policy development and documentation in preparation to apply for accreditation of the university’s human research protection program
Web Resources
Ellison, Karin and Karen Wellner. "Research Ethics and Society." CITI Program: Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative. (accessed Feb. 14, 2012). (Launched December 2013.)
Ellison, Karin and Karen Wellner. "Research, Ethics and Society." Online Ethics Center, National Academy of Engineering. (accessed Feb. 14, 2014). (Launched October 2013.)
"Academic Integrity Resources [Faculty]." College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Arizona State University. (Launched April 2009. Currently active.)
"Academic Integrity Resources [Students]." College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Arizona State University. (Launched April 2009. Currently active.)
As Dean’s Fellow, worked with faculty and staff to refine college process for reviewing accusations of violations of the student academic integrity policy. Developed educational materials about academic integrity and ASU’s academic integrity policy for both students and faculty. Designed Web pages to provide easy access to these materials.
“Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology.” Graduate College, Arizona State University. (Launched Fall 2007. Currently active.)
Developed content for site designed to provide information to prospective students.
"Conflict of Interest Committee." Graduate School, University of Wisconsin–Madison. (Currently active. Maintained and updated by my successors since July 2006.)
As conflicts manager, worked with the COI Committee between 2003 and 2006 to develop and document committee processes. Designed Web page and wrote most of the materials listed as guidance or tools.
"Outside Activities Reporting." Graduate School, University of Wisconsin–Madison. (Currently active. Maintained and updated by my successors since July 2006.)
Designed Web page to provide university researchers overview of obligations to report outside activities.
"Human Research Protections Program." Graduate School, University of Wisconsin–Madison. (Active with minor updates until after my departure in July 2006.)
Designed Web page to provide university researchers approachable overview of process for obtaining a protocol to conduct human subjects research and links to additional policy and procedure documentation.
"Responsible Conduct of Research." Graduate School, University of Wisconsin–Madison. (Active with minor updates until after my departure in July 2006.)
Designed Web page to provide university researchers easy access to quality Web-based educational resources on research ethics.
"Human Subjects Tutorial." Graduate School, University of Wisconsin–Madison. (Launched in Spring 2003. Active with minor updates until after my departure in July 2006.)
Conceptualized, managed, and wrote text for a substantial upgrade of this required on-line tutorial.
Scholarship
Grants and Awards
Ellison, Karin, Jane Maianschein, and Bertram Jacobs. Program in Life Science Ethics, SOLS, ASU. Arizona State University, Presidential Strategic Initiative Funds and School of Life Sciences. July 2016-June 2021. $175,000.
Hollander, Rachelle, PrincipalInvestigator. Karin Ellison and Frazier Benya, Co-Principal Investigators. Becoming the Online Resource Center for Ethics Education in Science and Engineering.NSF/SES #1355547. 2/1/14-1/31/19. $1,499,918. (ASU subcontract: $146,383.)
Robert, Jason, Jane Maianschein, and Robert Page. Bioscience Ethics, Policy, and Law @ Arizona State University (BPL). Arizona State University, Presidential Strategic Initiative Funds and School of Life Sciences. July 2011-June 2016. $175,000. From January 2014-June 2016 I served as director of the BPL program and had responsible charge of the programing and budget.
Ellison, Karin, Principal Investigator. Heather Canary, Joseph Herkert, and Jameson Wetmore, Co-Principal Investigators. Developing and Assessing Macroethics Modules for the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Courses. NSF/EESE #1033111. 10/2010-12/2013. $264,292.
Herkert, Joseph, Principal Investigator. Jameson Wetmore, Karin Ellison, and Heather Canary, Co-Principal Investigators. Integrating Microethics and Macroethics in Graduate Science and Engineering Education. NSF/EESE #08329442008. 10/2008-9/2012. $299,915.
Bernstein, Bianca L., Principal Investigator. Nancy Russo, Mary Anderson-Rowland, and John Horan, Co-Principal Investigators. Internet Delivered Resilience Training to Increase the Persistence of Women Ph.D. Students in STEM Fields. NSF/REC #06345192006. 9/2006-9/2010. $1,200,000. From August 2006-May 2008 served as senior personnel and team leader for the design and evaluation of case studies for this project.
Miller, Clark A., Principal Investigator. Eric Schatzberg, Wendy Crone, and Karin Ellison, Co-Principal Investigators. NUE: An Integrated Approach to Teaching Nanotechnology and Society. NSF/SES #04070752004. 7/1/2004-8/31/2006. $99,987.
Graduate Fellowship. Dibner Institute for the History of Science and Technology. Cambridge, MA. September 1996-May 1998.
Publications
Benya, Frazier, Rachelle Hollander, Karin Ellison,Kelly Laas, Simil L. Raghavan, and Thomas M. Powers.“Enhancements for the Online Ethics Center for Engineering and Science,”(2016). Conference Proceedings, Published Collection: Proceedings of Annual Meeting of the American Society for Engineering Education. Forthcoming.
Canary, Heather, Julie L. Taylor, Joseph R. Herkert, Karin D. Ellison, Jameson Wetmore, and Carlos A. Tarin. "Engaging Students in Integrated Ethics Education: A Communication in the Disciplines Study of Pedagogy and Students’ Roles in Society." Communication Education63, no. 2 (Apr. 2014): 83-104. DOI. 10.1080/03634523.2014.888457
Heather Canary, Joseph Herkert, Karin Ellison and Jameson Wetmore, "Microethics and Macroethics in Graduate Education for Scientists and Engineers: Developing and Assessing Instructional Models", (2012). Conference Proceedings, Published Collection: Proceedings of Annual Meeting of the American Society for Engineering Education Bibliography:
Joseph Herkert, Jameson Wetmore, Heather Canary and Karin Ellison, "Integrating microethics and macroethics in graduate science and engineering education: developing instructional models." (2009). Conference Proceedings, Published Collection: Annual Conference Proceedings, American Society for Engineering Education Bibliography:
Ellison, Karin. "Explaining Hoover, Grand Coulee, and Shasta Dams: Institutional Stability and Professional Identity in the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation." In Reclamation, Managing Water in the West: The Bureau of Reclamation History Essays from the Centennial Symposium. Vol. 1, 221-248. Denver, CO: US Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, 2008.
Bekki, Jennifer M., Bianca L. Bernstein, Karin D. Ellison, Arati Sridharan, Liza Hita, and Quinn Spadola. "Work in Progress: Using Case Studies to Increase the Retention of Female Doctoral Students in STEM Fields." Proceedings of Frontiers in Education: Racing Towards Innovation in Engineering Education. October 2008.
Zenner, Greta, Wendy Crone, Clark Miller, Karin Ellison, Charles Tahan, and Ricky Leung. “Introducing Nano and Society Issues into the Undergraduate and Graduate Classrooms.” Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Engineering Education. 2006.
Tahan, Charles, Ricky Leung, Greta M. Zenner, Karin D. Ellison, Wendy C. Crone, and Clark A. Miller. "Nanotechnology and Society: A Discussion-Based Undergraduate Course." American Journal of Physics 74, no. 5 (2006): 443-448.
Ellison, Karin. "The Making of a Multiple Purpose Dam: Engineering Culture, the U. S. Bureau Reclamation, and Grand Coulee Dam, 1917-1942." PhD Dissertation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2000.
Presentations
"Of Genome Engineering, Gene Drives, and Ethics." Phoenix, AZ: Special Libraries Association, (June 19, 2017).
Blattman, Joesph, Karin D. Ellison, Janet Neiswander, Christian Wright, and Beckett Sterner. "Ethics and the Life Sciences." Tempe, AZ: Life Sciences Cafe, ASU, (April 17, 2017).
"RCR Workshop: Conflicts of Interest." Tempe, AZ: ASU Office of Research Integrity and Assurance, (March 16, 2017).
Ellison, Karin D., Challie Facemire, Jonathan LaTourelle, and Michelle Sullivan. "Infusing Ethics." Notre Dame, IN, Positive Research Integrity Workshop, Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values, University of Notre Dame (March 4, 2017).
"Life Science Ethics Program." Tempe, AZ: Responsible Research and Innovation in Practice, National Workshop, (February 27, 2017).
Ellison, Karin D. and Joseph R. Herkert. "OEC Building the Collection: Life and Environmental Sciences." Dallas, TX: Association for Practical and Professional Ethics, (February 25, 2017).
Ellison, Karin D., Challie Facemire, Jonathan LaTourelle, and Michelle Sullivan. "How can we Infuse Ethics into the School of Life Sciences?" Tempe, AZ: Center for Biology and Society, Conversation Series, (January 24, 2017).
Benya, Frazier, Rachelle Hollander, Karin Ellison, Simil Raghavan, and Kelly Laas. Poster: “Online Ethics Center for Engineering and Science Enhancements.”Reston, VA: Association for Practical and Professional Ethics, 25th Annual Meeting, (February 20, 2016). Washington, D.C: American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2016 Annual Meeting, (February 14, 2016).